Heat’s Wade has great respect for Celtics

By

Gary Washburn

October 28, 2012

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade understand the Celtics are gearing solely toward his Miami Heat as the NBA season begins Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Every Celtic from Doc Rivers to Jared Sullinger has said the team is focused on overtaking the defending world champions, and Wade is not surprised.

“I expected that, when I heard (that we are the Celtics’ target) from Doc, I know Doc very well, as well it should be; our focus is on Boston,” Wade said. “But we do look at other teams. We’re not going to say we’re just looking at Boston. We understand this league is good. When you talk about focusing on the Eastern Conference, you focus on the champs in the Eastern Conference and that’s the Miami Heat. So that’s their message right there more so than them saying I’m not worried about no other team because you can’t beat us four times and lose to everybody else. You won’t make the playoffs.

Advertisement

“I understand what he was saying at that standpoint and we look forward to the challenge every year. Boston is always the team that’s going to make us point fingers (at each other) in the game sometimes. They mess with your mind a little bit. It’s a great challenge for us and by the time you get to the playoffs, we look forward it. You have to be aware and focused on everything that they’re doing because they can beat you any given night.”

Wade said last year the Celtics could gear themselves to contend for three more years with the Big Three, a statement that caused reporters to giggle because it appeared the final run was nearing the end. He ended up being correct. The Celtics re-signed Kevin Garnett for three more years and added Jason Terry, Jeff Green, Courtney Lee and Chris Wilcox.

“When you got great players, no matter how old they are, you’re a great player,” Wade said. “KG (Kevin Garnett) is playing phenomenal, like he’s found a fountain of youth. Why break it up? You do the San Antonio (plan), you just add players around the great players. San Antonio has been very successful and it seems like Tim Duncan has been in the league 38 years. Why change that? And Boston has kind of did the same thing. They felt they needed a facelift but they kept three of their core four to come back and still make another push at it. Their just as good. It’s a different dynamic than having Ray but they got other guys that brings something different to the team that will be challenging.”